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A 

SERMON, 

PREACHED AT THE FUNERAL OF 

MRS. REBECCA M. FARRINGTON, 

LATE CONSORT OF 

DANIEL FARRINGTON, A, B. 

WHO J^J" ^fcrillS LIFE,.,, 




BY NATHANIEL BMMOJNS, D. D. 

PASTOR- OF THE CHVACH IN FRANKLIN. 






PROVIDENCE : 

PRINTED BY MILLER & H^TCHENS. 
1816, 



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FUNERAL SERMON. 



PSALM XVII. 15. 



As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness : I shall 
be satisfied, when I awake with thjjflikeness. 



jVXOD gives men their 
whether they will hgjfj 
the life to come, 
disposed to choose 
God generally gratifil 
large share of earthly 
choose to have their 
world than this. David 




e present state, 

this life, or in 

universally 

£s life, and 

ing them a 

all good mea 

ther and better 

man. He loved 



God supremely, and preferred the future and everlasting 
enjoyment of him, to all the momentary and unsatisfying 
enjoyments of the present life. He looked beyond the 
grave for his full and unfailing portion. " As for me, I 
will behold thy face in righteousness : I shall be satisfied, 
when I awake with thy likeness." He expected, that 
as soon as he should be absent from the body, he should 
be present with the Lord, where he should see him face 
to face, and be completely blessed in his favour and 
presence forever. And if his expectation was just, we 
may safely conclude, 

That saints will be perfectly happy in the presence 
of God in heaven. 



To illustrate this consoling truth, I shall attempt to 
show, that there is such a place as heaven 5 that God 
manifests his peculiar presence there ; and that saints 
will there be completely happy in his presence. 

I. I am to show, that there is such a place as heaven. 

Some seem to imagine, that heaven is a state, rather 
than a place ; but it is not easy to conceive of this distinc- 
tion. The idea of locality attends all our ideas of created 
objects, whether spiritual or corporeal. If we think of 
any created spirit but our own, we conceive of it as at 
a distance from us, and existing in some place peculiar 
to itself. The idea of place certainly accompanies our 
idea of angels. We conceive them to be in heaven, or 
some other place, where God is pleased to employ them. 
And with respect to heaven, no person, perhaps, ever 
did really conceive o&j •» any other idea, than that 

of place. The s *j k f meaks of coming down 

from heaven^ .<• fc^en ; and these ex.- 

pressions, in i«|^ Habit of a figurative 

meaning. We^ W I rand Christ were both 

seen to ascenc' towards heaven, and to con- 

tinue ascending higl W|igher, until they rose above 
the utmost stretehTPiiuman sight. And of Christ it 
was expressly said by the angels, that he should so 
come in like manner as he was seen to go up to heaven. 
Besides, the scripture not only represents heaven as a 
place, but describes it as the most magnificent place in 
the universe, and such we should naturally suppose 
would be the palace of the supreme Lord of all. The 
scripture also assures us, that the bodies of Elijah and 
Christ, and of those who come out of their graves at 
his resurrection, are now actually in heaven. But bo- 
dies can exist only in place ; and since we know, that 
there are bodies in heaven, we are constrained to view it 
as a place, rather than a state. Whatever changes may 



have passed upon glorified bodies they must still be ma- 
terial, and have a local existence. .Agreeably to this, 
our Lord told his disciples, when about to leave them, 
and go to heaven, " Let not your heart be troubled : ye be- 
lieve in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house 
are many mansions ; if it Avere not so, I would have 
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go 
and prepare & place for you, I will come again, and re- 
ceive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may 
be also." This plain and positive promise of Christ 
ought to convince us, that heaven is a place. 

II. I now proceed to show, that God manifests his pe- 
culiar presence in heaven. David confidently expected 
to behold the face of God, in some peculiar manner, 
when he should awake in the world of light. Although 
God does, in some incomprehensible manner, fill heaven, 
earth and hell, by h\ iyDresence ; yet it may be 

true that he make% sol Infestations of his 

local presence in fl 8^' ^ e know, 

that he has appeared fSjj ffliar manner present, 

at certain times, in certan JR. He was visibly pre- 

sent, when he lead his people out of Egypt into the wil- 
derness, by a pillar of cloud and of fire. He was visi- 
bly present in the tabernacle and in the temple. He 
made the Holy of holies his constant residence. In 
some such peculiar manner, we may suppose he mani- 
fests his presence in heaven. Nor is this a groundless 
conjecture 5 for the scripture represents him, as making 
heaven his high and holy habitation. Those holy men, 
who were indulged the favour of looking within the veil, 
have told us, that they saw his Throne, where he makes 
visible and glorious manifestations of his presence. 
Isaiah says, " I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high 
and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it 
stood the seraphims ; each one had six wings ; with 



twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered 
his feet ; and with twain he did fly. And one cried un- 
to another, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the 
whole earth is full of his glory." The apostle John al- 
so gives a similar representation of the throne of God, 
and of those who surround it. If these representations 
are somewhat figurative ; yet these figures must have 
some foundation in fact. But they would be groundless 
and absurd, if there were no visible manifestations of 
God's peculiar presence in heaven. In some part of 
that glorious place, we may suppose, God ha& fixed his 
throne, his Shechinah, or visible symbol of his presence, 
which all the inhabitants of heaven view as the resi- 
dence of the Supreme Sovereign of the universe ; and 
near this holy habitation of the Deity, we may likewise 
suppose, the Man Christ Jesus, and the highest orders of 
celestial beings f ite places. Indeed, 

the whole currenjjl fcus to ^ e ^ eve ? that 

God dwells more s 3g ply in heaven, than in 

any part of the uni I both saints and angels 

behold his face in righteousness, and enjoy his blissful 
presence. This leads me to show, 

III. That when the saints shall arrive in heaven, they 
will be completely satisfied and happy there. 

They will enjoy all that felicity, which David antici- 
pated, when he humbly and confidently said to God, " I 
will behold thy face in righteousness : I shall be satis- 
fied when I awake with thy likeness. 55 If there will be 
perfect happiness any where in the universe, it is to 
be expected in heaven, where God is, and Christ is 5 
and all holy beings are collected and united in their 
views and affections. Heaven was designed for happi- 
ness, and great preparations have been made, and are 
still making, to raise the blessedness of holy creatures 
to the highest degree of perfection. " Eye hath not 



seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart 
of man the things which God hath prepared for them that 
love him." And Christ tells us, that he will say to them 
on his right hand at the last day, " Come ye blessed of 
my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, from 
the foundation of the world.' 5 Since God intends to 
prepare heaven for the enjoyment and blessedness of 
his friends, we may be assured, that it will be fitted in 
the best manner to answer that benevolent and gracious 
purpose. The place itself, and all the objects contain- 
ed in it, will be completely suitedsto afford the most 
perfect satisfaction and enjoyment to all who shall pos- 
sess it. There will be no disagreeable objects in heaven. 
There will be nothing offensive to the eye, or to the ear, 
or to the heart. There will be no painful heat, nor 
painful cold, nor painful darkness, nor painful hunger, 
nor painful thirst, nor painful fear. Nor will God mere- 
ly exclude every thing una and undesirable from 
heaven, but adorn it wit! hraj and moral beauty. 
Such is the place, v.hic |en, and is still pre- 
paring, for them that HP ftus now more dis- 
tinctly consider the various species of happiness, which 
they shall there enjoy, and which shall yield them com- 
plete satisfaction. 

1. They will enjoy all the happiness, which can flow 
from the free and full exercise of all their' intellectual 
powers and faculties. All rational beings have a thirst 
for knowledge, and the discovery of truth affords real 
entertainment and satisfaction to their minds. Many 
good men in this world have delightfully employed their 
mental powers in their inquisitive researches into the 
works and ways of God. There is a peculiar pleasure 
in tracing and examining the natures, causes, relations, 
and connexions of things in the natural and moral world. 
In heaven, the understanding will be cleared of its dark- 



8 

ness, weakness, and liability to err, while all the natural 
faculties of the mind will be strengthened and enlarged. 
The memory will contain, and be able to recollect, all 
ideas which had ever been treasured up in it. All ob- 
jects and truths, which had been once known, will be for 
ever known. And this will afford a great facility in mak- 
ing rapid and perpetual advances in knowledge. Besides, 
heaven will furnish the blessed with the best means of 
intellectual improvement. They will enjoy ample op- 
portunities, in the course of ages, to become acquainted 
with all created objects, with all past events, and all the 
causes by which they were brought about. For, Christ 
has promised his friends, that the things which they know 
not now, they shall know hereafter. If the godly are 
greatly gratified with the little knowledge they gain of 
what passes in this world, while they remain in it j how 
much greater satisfaction will it give them, to become 
acquainted with all &t£ lone, and will do, from 

the beginning to t' J| 

2. Those who M I face of God in right- 

eousness, will en res of the heart, as well 

as those of the understanding. They will view objects 
and truths, without that coldness and indifference, with 
which they viewed them in this dark and imperfect 
state. Their new, clear, and increasing discoveries of 
the power, the wisdom, the goodness, the justice, the 
mercy, and the sovereignty of God, will fill their hearts 
with raptures of delight. The pleasures of the heart 
are the highest and most refined pleasures of the souL 
When love, joy, gratitude, and admiration fill the mind, 
they completely satisfy it, because they gratify all its 
powers and capacity at once, and leave no painful void. 
Those pleasures of the heart will naturally and constant- 
ly flow from the beatific vision of God in the kingdom 
of glory. 



3. The saints in that blessed world, shall enjoy the 
pleasures of the heart in the richest variety. As they 
will behold the face of God in righteousness, so they 
will be peculiarly gratified by the holy and delightful 
services, in which they will be frequently employed. 
They will raise theft admiring eyes to the thrbhe of di- 
vine glory, and unitedly celebrate the praises of their 
Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier. In these acts of 
pure devotion, their hearts will be full of the most live- 
ly, ardent, and grateful affections. The pen of inspira- 
tion has painted, in glowing colours, the pure and ele- 
vated worship of the heavenly hosts. They are repre- 
sented as casting their crowns at the feet of God and 
the Lamb, and paying them divine homage with the sin- 
cerest and warmest emotions of heart* The apostle 
John says, " I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which 
no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and 
people, and tongues stood before the throne, and before 
the Lamb, clothed in white, i , and palms in their 
hands ; and cried with a l », saying, salvation to 

our God, which sitteth on the throne, and unto the 
Lamb. And all the angels stood found about the throne, 
and about the elders, and the four beasts, and fell before 
the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, 
amen : blessing, and glory and wisdom, and thanksgi- 
ving, and honour* and power, and might, be unto our 
God forever and ever* Amen." This is one descrip- 
tion of the worship of the heavenly inhabitants, and 
there are others equally beautiful and glorious. It is 
not possible to describe, nor even to conceive, with what 
holy fervour and delight, the redeemed from among men 
will adore and praise him, who washed them from their 
sins in his own blood, and made them kings and priests 
unto God. 

2 



Again they will enjoy the pleasure of society, as well 
as of devotion. As rational and benevolent creatures, 
they will be formed for the enjoyment of social inter- 
course. Society is the balm of life in this world. Should 
any one here be entirely secluded from all human socie- 
ty, he would be in a very disagreeable and wretched 
condition. But in heaven, the pleasures of society w T ill 
be universally and most perfectly enjoyed. When Pe- 
ter, James and John, heard Christ, Moses and Elias 
freely converse on the mount of transfiguration about 
the glorious work of redemption, they w r ere thrown into 
an extacy of joy. But how much more pleasing and 
permanent satisfaction will the redeemed derive from 
the holy conversation of all the heavenly inhabitants. 
Adam the father of mankind will be there, who w r ill have 
much to say concerning the creation of the world, the 
happiness of Eden, the astonishing effects of his apostacy, 
and the still more astonishing displays of divine grace 
towards him and his ruined family. Noah will be 
there, who will have much to say concerning the degene- 
racy of mankind, thenlwful destruction brought upon 
them by the deluge, and what he saw, and heard, and ex- 
perienced, during that tremendous catastrophe. Abra- 
ham will be there, who will have much to say concern- 
ing the dark times in w T hich he lived, and the dark scenes 
and fiery trials which he endured. Paul wall be there, 
who will have much to say concerning his duties, his 
dangers, and his triumphs, while pulling down the king- 
dom of darkness, and building up the kingdom of Christ. 
All the redeemed will have much to say concerning the 
discriminating grace of God, in calling them out of dark- 
ness into light, and in preparing them to behold the face 
of God, in the beauties of holiness. Angels will be 
there, who saw the creation cf the world, who were min- 
istering spirits to the heirs of salvation, and who saw 



* 



n 

their once holy and happy associates rebel against theij; 
Maker, forfeit their seats in heaven, and receive the due 
reward of their deeds ; and these pure spirits will have 
much to say concerning what they saw in heaven, i# 
earth, and the regions of despair. Above all, Christ 
will be there, and converse as freely, and far more in- 
structively, than he ever did in the days of his humanity. 
He will be able and disposed to relate what passed in 
the divine council, when the gracious design of redemp- 
tion was devised, and all the steps that had beea taken 
to carry it into execution. In a word, -he will clearly 
unfold whatever was dark and mysterious in all the dis- 
pensations of providence and grace, from the beginning 
to the end of time. The free, mutual, and unreserved 
intercourse in such a holy society, will fill the hearts of 
the heirs of glory, with unspeakable satisfaction and de* 
light. 

In addition to the happiness of this general inter- 
course, they will enjoy the peculiar pleasures of a more 
particular and intimate friendship. Though there will 
be no enemies in heaven, yet there will undoubtedly be 
circles of intimate friends, whose hearts, like David's 
and Jonathan's, were united in tender affections before 
they arrived to the mansions of heaven. Pious rulers 
and pious subjects, pious ministers and pious hearer^ 
pious friends and pious acquaintance, will meet and know 
one another amidst the general assembly and church of the 
first-born ; and their former imion and communion in 
the church below, will lay a foundation for a far more 
intimate and endearing friendship in the church above. 
Paul expected, that the brotherly love, which united his 
heart with the hearts of those, whom he had been in- 
strumental of bringing to the saving knowledge of the 
truth, would continue and increase, and become an inex- 
haustable source of the purest friendship. We may weR. 



12 

suppose that those, who were the most intimately con- 
nected in this world, will often meet together in more pri- 
vate circles, and delightly communicate to each other, the 
joys and sorrows, the hopes and fears, they experienced 
while passing through the storms and tempests of this 
present probationary state, Christ was more intimate 
with Peter, James and John, than with the rest of his 
disciples, and still more intimate with John than with 
Peter and James. The love of Christ, which cements 
the hearts of christians in this life, will continue to ce- 
ment their hearts in the life to come, and produce a re- 
fined and sweet enjoyment, peculiar to themselves. 

Still further to enhance their blessedness, they will en- 
joy the ineffable pleasure, flowing from the expressions 
of the peculiar love and approbation of God. When 
they behold his face in righteousness, he will lift upon 
them the light of his countenance, and speak peace to 
their ravished hearts. We know not, indeed, in what 
mode he will express his love to them ; but he who 
could converse with Moses here on earth, face to face, 
as a man converseth with his friend, can easily employ 
means to convey to their minds the clearest evidence of 
his paternal complacency and delight in them, which 
will fill their souls with joys unspeakable and full of 
glory- 
But that which will carry celestial blessedness to the 
highest degree of perfection, is the pleasure of anti- 
cipation. This is the principal source of divine com- 
fort in the present state, but it will afford a far more per- 
manent satisfaction to the blessed in their future and 
eternal state. They will be able to look forward to in- 
terminable ages, and anticipate not only the continuance, 
but the increase of holiness and happiness, as long as 
duration shall last. As David anticipated the joyful 
prospect of appearing before God, and beholding his 



13 

face in righteousness, so all the redeemed will joyfully 
anticipate their perpetual felicity and rising glory to all 
eternity. In the presence of God there will be fulness 
of joy, and at his right hand there will be pleasures for- 
evermore. 

It now remains to improve and apply the subject. 

1. Since we have reason to believe, that heaven is a 
real place, we have no reason to believe, that those de- 
parted spirits, who have arrived there, have any personal 
knowledge of what passes in this world. Some suppose, 
that deceased saints are still conversant with the living, 
and have a personal knowledge of what passes among 
men. This opinion they found upon the supposition 
that heaven is merely a state, and not a proper place 
distinct and distant from this world. But if what has 
been said be true, there is no ground for this supposition. 
The scripture certainly represents heaven and earth as 
very different and remote from each other ; and plainly 
intimates, that the dead are as ignorant of the state of 
the living, as the living are of the state of the dead. 
Whatever it is, that prevents living saints from looking 
into heaven, must undoubtedly prevent departed saints 
iom looking back into this world. Job had no idea, 
that a departed parent would have any knowledge of the 
state and circumstances of his children, whom he left be- 
hind. He says to God, " Thou destroyest the hope of 
man. Thou prevailest against him ; and he passeth : 
ihou changest his countenance, and sendest him away. 
His sons come to bonour, and he knoweth it not ; and 
they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them." 
Isaiah represents the church as saying to God, " Doubt- 
less thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of 
us, and Israel acknowledge us not," The notion, that 
departed saints are acquainted with the concerns of this 
world, seems to have been on occasion, at least, of the 



14 

popish practice of praying to, and worshipping canno- 
nized saints. And though protestants have not run into 
the same superstition and idolatry, yet the opinion, that 
departed spirits know what passes among the living and 
happens to them in this life, tends to turn men aside 
from the path of duty, and fill their minds with ground-, 
less hopes and fears* 

2. If heaven be such a place as has been described, 
then it it easy to conceive of one way, at least, in which 
God can reward saints according to their works, when 
they arrive there. He may do it by local situation. If 
he has fixed his throne in the midst of heaven, if he has 
seated his Son at his right hand, and if he has arranged 
all the heavenly inhabitants in proper order, then he 
may place some saints in mansions nearer to, and some 
in mansions further off, from the throne of his glory and 
the personal presence of the divine Redeemer. To be 
near to God and to Christ, will be a peculiar mark of 
the divine favour. We cannot suppose, that the im- 
mensely numerous inhabitants of heaven are a mixed 
multitude, promiscuously blended together, without any 
order or appointed residence. As there are many man- 
sions in heaven, so we may naturally conclude, that in- 
dividual saints and angels will know their own appro- 
priate mansions. When saints arrive in heaven, they 
are, without doubt, severally conducted to the mansions, 
which Christ has gone before to prepare for them. And 
those, who have acted a better part on the stage of life,, 
and done more good in the world, than others ; may be 
rewarded according to their woiks, by having better 
seats assigned them; that is, by being placed nearer to 
the throne of God, and the personal presence of Christ. 
We know, that it is a great privilege to be placed in one 
part of this world, rather than another ; and it may be a 
greater privilege to be placed in a conspicuous part of 



^zr 



heaven. As the principalities and powers in heavenly 
places may be seated above the patriarchs, the prophets, 
and apostles ; so these may be seated above common 
christians, who will be in the same manner locally dis- 
tinguished and favoured, according to what they had 
done and suffered for the honour of Christ, before they 
were absent from the body and present with the Lord. 
3. If departed saints will be put into the possession 
of such a variety of intellectual and spiritual enjoyments, 
as we have mentioned ; then it is easy to conceive how 
some may be much happier than others, though all will 
be perfectly blessed. Some will go to heaven with 
larger capacities than others ; some will go with larger 
measures of religious knowledge than others ; and some 
will go with larger measures of righteousness or true 
holiness than others. All these things are qualifications 
for the enjoyments of heaven, and render those who pos- 
sess the largest portions of them, capable of enjoying the 
highest degrees of spiritual and divine felicity. The 
prophets and apostles, especially Paul and John, were 
far better prepared for the various enjoyments of heaven, 
than thousands of others, who never possessed their in- 
tellectual powers, religious knowledge, and eminent at- 
tainments in holiness. As some, if I may so speak, will 
enter forward in heaven, so many of them will keep for- 
ward to all eternity. Their previous qualifications will 
enable them to make more rapid advances in the intel- 
lectual and spiritual improvements and enjoyments. 
When they shall behold the face of God in righteousness, 
they will enjoy a nobler satisfaction in contemplating 
the glory of God, surveying the scenes and objects in 
heaven, and in giving and receiving mutual instruction. 
As one star differs from another star in glory, so one 
saint will differ from another saint, in respect to knowl- 
edge, holiness, and happiness, while there will not be 



one discontented, or dissatisfied person in heaven. Such 
a uniformity, and yet variety, in heavenly felicity, will 
be absolutely necessary in order to raise the holiness 
and blessedness of God, of Christ, of angels, and of 
saints, to the highest possible degree of perfection. 

4. If saints, as soon as they shine forth in the king- 
dom of their Father, shall be put into the possession of 
the rich variety of intellectual and spiritual enjoyments ; 
then there is reason to believe, that their death will oc- 
casion more joy in heaven, than sorrow on earth. Since 
saints, at death, carry all their piety, virtue, and useful- 
ness out of this world, so their decease is justly to be 
lamented. When David died, when Moses and Samuel 
died, when Rachel and Dorcas died, and when other 
pious persons left the world, their departure out of it 
justly occasioned sorrow and mourning, not only to their 
nearest connexions, but to all who knew their worth and 
importance in life. But since the pious dead carry all 
their virtues and excellencies into heaven, where they 
behold the face of God in righteousness, and take pos- 
session of all the holiness and felicity, which they are 
capable of enjoying, their entrance into the kingdom of 
glory must give joy to all the holy and benevolent beings 
there. They rejoiced when they were converted, and 
their joy must be increased, when they see them actually 
glorified. Benevolence in all intelligent beings disposes 
them to rejoice with those who rejoice. When saints 
have surmounted all their sorrows and sufferings, and 
safely arrived at the haven of eternal rest, they wili 
certainly rejoice ; and will not the benevolent spirits in 
heaven rejoice with them, especially their former chris- 
tian friends, who had been waiting for their safe and 
happy arrival. If benevolence be the same in heaven 5 
as on earth, the heavenly hosts will rejoice at the deaths 
of the godly, and if they do rejoice, they certainly will 



17 

rejoice more sensibly and sincerely, than surviving 
frionds will mourn. 

5. Since departed saints will behold the face of God 
in righteousness, we may form some clear and just con- 
ception of their beautiful appearance in the world of 
glory. Every amiable and distinguishing trait in their 
character will not only continue, but be vastly improved, 
Adam will be Adam there ; Moses will be Moses there 5 
Solomon will be Solomon there ; Peter will be Peter 
there ; Paul will be Paul there ; and John the beloved 
disciple will be the beloved disciple there. Departed 
saints will carry with them all that variety of natural 
and moral excellencies, which they possessed in this life, 
and by which they were here known and distinguished. 
But though none of their intellectual powers and facul- 
ties will be essentially altered, yet they will all be bright- 
ened and adorned with the beauties of holiness. And 
this variety in the characters of the blessed, will beauti- 
fully display the wisdom and sovereignty, as well as the 
grace of God, in forming the vessel^ of mercy ; and fill 
the mouth of each individual with peculiar arguments 
and motives of gratitude and praise. Each one will have 
something to thank God for, which is peculiar to him- 
self ; and so each will be perfectly satisfied with both 
his character and condition forever. Whatever pious 
survivors loved and admired in their departed christian 
friends, they may be assured they shall see, and love, 
and admire in them, when they shall happily meet them 
in the state of perfection. 

6. If^departed saints do immediately pass into glory, 
and become perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of 
God ; then their bereaved friends have no occasion to 
mourn on their account, but only on their own. The de- 
parted do not mourn for themselves, that they have safely 
reached the kingdom of glory, and behold the face of 

3 



18 

God in righteousness ; and if they do not mourn for 
themselves, why should their surviving friends mourn for 
them ? And if they rejoice, why should not their bereaved 
friends rejoice with them ? Certainly, they should not 
mourn as those who have no hope ; or in other words, 
they should not mourn, that those, whom they loved and 
esteemed on earth, are put into a state of endless and 
growing perfection. But they have indeed just cause to 
mourn on their own account, and to mourn according to 
the Joss they have sustained. 

In this view, the decease of Mrs. Farrington, in the 
midst of her days and usefulness, is greatly to be lament- 
ed. It is not, perhaps, too much to say, that she nearly 
resembled the virtuous woman, whose character and con- 
duct are drawn by the pen of inspiration. She merited 
the confidence of her hushand, the affection of her chil- 
dren, and the respect of all her friends and acquaintance. 
She was agreeable to all, with whom she conversed, and 
conducted with propriety in every situation in which she 
was placed. She was called to move in a conspicuous, 
rather than elevated sphere of life, where she exhibited 
peculiar wisdom, prudence, patience, economy, and all 
the domestic virtues. She passed through many check- 
ered and trying scenes, with that serenity, affability, 
cheerfulness, and fortitude, which are very rarely dis- 
covered in similar circumstances. How much this pro- 
priety of conduct was owing to her pious education, and 
eayly opportunities for mental improvement, it is not easy 
to determine ; but there is ground to believe it was part- 
ly owing to the special grace of God which she expe- 
rt :<;ed in an earlier, ftr later period of life. Though 
in the first stages of her decline, she cherished high 
hopes and ardent desires of a recovery ; yet some time 
before her decease, she totally renounced all such hopes 
and such desires, and said, she was willing to die, and if 



19 

her heart did not deceive her, she was prepared, to leave 
the world. This is a source of consolation to her be- 
reaved husband, and to her sorrowful children, under 
their great and irreparable loss. They have just reason 
to mourn, but not to complain. The Judge of all the 
earth has done right, and it becomes them to be still, 
and not open their mouths, because he has done it. Sub- 
mission to God is the only balm, that can heal the wounds 
he has given them. He counted their tears, before he 
drew them from their eyes, and weighed their sorrows, 
before he pierced their hearts with anguish and distress* 
He meant to cast the cares and burdens of this young, 
numerous, and promising family upon the parent, who 
has publicly devoted them to Him, whom he has so 
long served in the gospel of his Son, and to increase 
his obligations to lead them in the ways of wisdom, and 
do every thing in his power to render them useful and 
happy through every period of their existence. He 
meant also to teach these motherless children to be duti- 
ful to their afflicted father, and to be kind and tender- 
hearted to each other 5 and especially to teach the elder 
to instruct, and guide, and watch over the younger. If 
they cordially receive and follow these solemn admoni- 
tions of providence, they will hereafter have reason to 
say, that it has been good for them, that they have felt 
the chastising rod, and obeyed Him, who appointed it. 
Let them, therefore, neither despise the chastening of the 
Lord, nor faint when they are rebuked of him : and then 
he will give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for 
mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of 
heaviness. 

But is it nothing to us, my hearers, to behold and see 
this instance of mortality, and its distressing effects upon 
this circle of mourners ? Certainly, w T e ought to mourn 
with them that mourn, and weep with them that weep, 



20 

and alleviate their sorrows, by our sympathetic tears. 
We are born to trouble as the sparks fly upward, and 
have yet to pass through the vale of tears to our long 
home. It deeply concerns us, to improve this call of 
providence, to prepare for the trials and close of life. 
We know not how soon it will be our lot to go before, 
or to follow our friends to the grave, the house appointed 
for all living. Let us cordially embrace the gospel, sin- 
cerely devote the residue of our lives to God, and set 
our souls and houses in order, that we may meet the 
king of terrours without dismay, and have a happy tran- 
sition out of this, into the world of light where we may 
behold the face of God in righteousness, and be com- 
pletely and forever satisfied with his likeness'. Amen. 






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